Ideal for worldwide use in wireless keyboards, wireless computer peripherals, two-way RKE (Remote Keyless Entry) systems, toys, security systems, etc. Allows European manufacturers of 450MHz wireless data systems to migrate products to less crowded 900MHz ISM bands.

Micrel's MICRF003 and MICRF033 are the industry's first single-chip RF receivers capable of 900MHz operation. Featuring very low power consumption, both devices provide manufacturers of 450MHz systems with an easy migration path up to 900MHz ISM bands. Micrel Semiconductor is an industry leader in analog and power management integrated circuits.

"The key reason we've targeted the 900MHz spectrum is that the FCC allows data communication at higher power in this band than in the 450MHz spectrum addressed by previous QwikRadio devices. Higher transmitted power equates directly to greater range of operation," says Lou Scalzo, Micrel's Director of RF Products. "The MICRF003 and MICRF033 provide OEMs with a simple, cost-effective solution that permits them to get new 900MHz systems to market quickly."

"Another reason we've targeted the 900MHz spectrum is that in Europe, the 418MHz to 433MHz bands are over-crowded ý motivating OEMs to move to the 900MHz band with new designs. Micrel's new parts make this migration to 900MHz achievable with unsurpassed ease and cost-effectiveness," Scalzo said.

The MICRF003/033 use the same architecture as the rest of Micrel's ground-breaking QwikRadio family of single-chip receivers. The devices eliminate the need for expensive manual tuning, required for performance optimization in competing solutions. They also draw just 4mA supply current and can be easily be deployed with duty-cycled power schemes to provide significantly lower power dissipation, making them very attractive for battery powered systems.

This and the Anadigics product before were announced within hours of one another. Although they carry the same title descriptor they are completely different products. As to which was the first 900-MHz receiver . . .

This is a really nice niche that Micrel is carving out for itself. The problems of de-mystifying RF for the unwashed are immense but Micrel is doing a great job, first at 450 MHz, now at 900 MHz, in providing the simple drop in parts solution and some excellent tutorials on what needs to be done around the receiver. It is extremely unusual for a vendor to use different base part numbers for different packages and I'm not sure of Micrel's logic here.

The ISM market is wide open for development at 900 MHz and these parts from Micrel will be widely accepted quite quickly.